{"id":9594,"date":"2011-03-03T15:02:21","date_gmt":"2011-03-03T21:02:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.withamymac.com\/news\/?p=9594"},"modified":"2011-03-10T11:31:31","modified_gmt":"2011-03-10T17:31:31","slug":"how-to-work-out-abs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.withamymac.com\/news\/2011\/03\/03\/how-to-work-out-abs\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Work Out Abs"},"content":{"rendered":"

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It must be close to swimsuit season because everyone is asking about how to work out abs! One of the most important things to remember is that diet and genetics play such a huge part in seeing those 6 pack abs. You might have amazing abs but there might be a layer of fat hiding them from the world. Losing body fat is the only way to make them visible. This means a reduction in calories and\/or additional cardio exercise. Where you carry your weight is genetic. Some people gain and lose starting from the chin and then moving down, others from the hips moving up and others in their middle first. This means patience is important when getting toned and losing body fat.<\/p>\n

Ab Muscles
\n<\/strong>We spend tons of our workout time exercising the ab muscles, but do you really know what those are and how to target them? Here\u2019s what you need to know about your core muscles.<\/p>\n

How to Work Out the Rectus Abdominus
\n<\/strong>When thinking about working the abs, most people think of it as one big section. The truth, however, is that your abs are a complex muscle system and that each group needs to be worked. When you are working on that six-pack look, you\u2019re working on your rectus abdominus.<\/p>\n

The rectus abdominus is located in the front, center of your stomach. It runs from the ribs all the way to the pelvis, and is all one muscle; so, when you hear people working on their \u201cupper\u201d and \u201clower\u201d abs, they\u2019re really working the same muscle. This gives new meaning to \u201cbest lower ab exercises\u201d and \u201cbest upper ab exercises\u201d! That’s right – there are no upper abs and lower abs – it is all the same muscle! <\/p>\n

The best way to work your rectus abdominus is through regular crunches, lower leg raises, and in and outs. You should be familiar with the first two exercises; the last one is where you sit on the floor or on the edge of a chair and bring your legs into your chest and then away in a controlled manner.<\/p>\n

How to Work Out Abs with a Ball Crunch
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